Best Student Loan Refi Rates October 1, 2026: Credible Leads at 3.96%
The College Investorby Robert Farrington6d ago
Student loan refinance rates have held continued to hold as the Fed has held interest rates steady.
The College Investor
thecollegeinvestor.comadded August 2026
top 44%Trump Administration Launches First Federal School Choice Program With New IRS Rules
The College Investorby Robert Farrington7d ago
The Treasury Department and the IRS on October 1, 2026, issued proposed and temporary regulations for the Education Freedom Tax Credit, a new tax credit created under Section 25F of the tax code by...
Trust Funds And Financial Aid: Rules On Revocable, Irrevocable And Court-Ordered Trusts For FAFSA and CSS Profile
The College Investorby Mark Kantrowitz7d ago
Key Points - 1Federal law lists trusts as a reportable asset, and the Department of Education says a trust is the beneficiary’s asset even when the beneficiary can’t touch the money yet.
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable In 2026? What The IRS Counts As Income (And What Stays Tax-Free)
The College Investorby Robert Farrington7d ago
Key Points - Federal income-driven repayment forgiveness became taxable again on January 1, 2026, when the American Rescue Plan Act exclusion expired. Congress has not extended it.
Treasury Will Auto-Open Trump Accounts For 68 Million Kids Starting October 1 (But The $1,000 Still Requires A Form)
The College Investorby Robert Farrington7d ago
Key Points - Starting on or about October 1, 2026, Treasury will open a Trump account for every eligible child under 18 with a Social Security number, no parent action required.
Education Department Launches Online Portal To Get Student Loans Out Of Default
The College Investorby Robert Farrington8d ago
The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of the Treasury launched the Defaulted Loans Support Center on September 30, 2026, a new section of StudentAid.gov where borrowers with...
Pay As You Earn (PAYE): How It Works, Who Qualifies, And What Happens When It Ends In 2028
The College Investorby Robert Farrington8d ago
Pay As You Earn (PAYE) is a federal income-driven repayment plan that caps your monthly student loan payment at 10% of your discretionary income and forgives whatever is left after 20 years of...
Today's Best Student Loan Rates for September 29, 2026: Ascent Leads at 1.94%
The College Investorby Robert Farrington9d ago
Student loan rates have are getting even more competitive as peak back to school season ends. As of September 29, 2026, private student loan lenders are offering fixed rates as low as 1.94% APR and...
Education Department Extends 1% Student Loan Auto Pay Discount Deadline To December 31
The College Investorby Robert Farrington9d ago
The U.S. Department of Education announced on September 29, 2026 that it was extending the enrollment window for its temporary 1% student loan interest rate reduction by three months.
How the Student Loan Interest Deduction Works
The College Investorby Robert Farrington9d ago
Key Points - You can deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest per year without itemizing. Most borrowers save $300 to $550 in federal tax.
Protect College Sports Act Passes Senate 77-22: What It Means For NIL Money
The College Investorby Robert Farrington9d ago
Key Points - The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 on Monday, September 28, 2026, the first time either chamber has approved sweeping federal rules for college sports.
Today's Best Savings Rates for September 28, 2026: NexBank Leads at 4.25%
The College Investorby Robert Farrington10d ago
High-yield savings account rates have started to rise slightly, even at large banks, in the wake of the Federal Reserve rate increase last week.
States That Require The FAFSA To Graduate High School (2026 Update)
The College Investorby Robert Farrington10d ago
Key Points - Seven states currently make filing the FAFSA (or signing an opt-out form) a condition of getting a diploma: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Texas.
IRS Draft 2026 Form 1040 Adds First-Ever Citizenship Question Tied To Tax Credit Limits
The College Investorby Robert Farrington10d ago
The IRS posted a draft 2026 Form 1040 last week that asks tax filers about their citizenship status for the first time: “At the time you file your return, are you, and your spouse if filing...
New Senate Bill Would Give First-Time Homebuyers $5 For Every $1 They Save
The College Investorby Robert Farrington11d ago
Key Points - A $5 match for every $1 saved: Sen. Jeff Merkley’s Homeownership Promise Act would give first-time homebuyers up to $50,000 from HUD on top of $10,000 they save themselves, for as much...
Cornell Says College Pricing Is 'Opaque By Design' And Wants Families To Know Their Cost When They Apply
The College Investorby Robert Farrington12d ago
Key Points - Cornell’s report on the future of college says AI can make students look like they’re learning when they aren’t. It wants class technology used only when the instructor allows it.
Santa Clara University Expands Full-Need Financial Aid To California Families Earning $150,000
The College Investorby Robert Farrington12d ago
Santa Clara University will cover 100% of tuition, fees, and room and board, after the family’s expected contribution, for every admitted California student from a family earning $150,000 or less...
We Make Too Much For Financial Aid. Should We Still File The FAFSA?
The College Investorby Robert Farrington13d ago
The Question I saw that the FAFSA opened this week, but I feel like we make too much for financial aid. We’re right around $125,000 a year and our daughter is a senior.
Student Loan Borrowers In Their 40s Have 45% Smaller 401(k) Balances, EBRI Finds
The College Investorby Robert Farrington13d ago
Student loan borrowers in their 40s have median 401(k) balances roughly 45% lower than participants the same age with no student debt, according to a new report from the Employee Benefit Research...
WisePal Review: Save Money On Bills And More
The College Investorby Colin Graves13d ago
Quick Summary - Online negotiation service - Users save an average of $1,272 annually - You choose your fee upfront WisePal is a bill negotiation platform that helps you lower household expenses...